IN A NUT SHELL 
sf A FEW ITEMS OF INTEREST ^ sf 
The native home of the Dahlia is Central America and Southern Mexico. Its 
earliest known history dates back to IGSH, and at this date was called Acocti by the 
Aztec Indians. Later its name was changed to Georgina, after Prof. Georgi of St. 
Petersburg, which name is still used in some of the German catalogs. Again the 
name was changed to Dahlia, after Dr. Dahl, a Swedish botanist. The Dahlia in 
its native state is single. The first double forms appeared in 1814 and are credited 
to M. Donkelaar. The first double forms were of the types now known as SHOW 
and FANCY. The POMPON form appeared about 1858 to 1860. Next came the 
DECOEATIVE form, but its origin is not clearly defined, but probably dates back 
some forty years. The first CACTUS Dahlia originated in 1873, but was not 
placed on the market until 1880. It was named Juarezi after President Juarez of 
Mexico. This is the popular type of the present day and there are some 2,000 
named varieties of Cactus Dahlias today that have descended from the original 
Juarezi. The PEONY FLOWEEED type is of quite recent origin, dating back 
but a few years. 
How to Grow and Care For Daklias 
If possible, plant in an open, sunny situation. Prepare the soil thoroughly by 
deep digging. Be moderate in the use of both manure and water. Never plant 
when the soil is wet. Lay the tuber flat on its side and cover it 4 inches deep, 
pressing the soil firmly on the tuber. Keep the soil loose and mellow by frequent 
hoeing, drawing the soil to a slight hillock around the plant. 
Tall growing varieties may be kept fairly drawf by pinching out the tip when 
the first shoot is G inches high. All varieties growing above 4 feet should be tied to 
stout stakes to hold them ija^ position. 
3x3 feet is about the proper distance to plant apart. 
Keep all dead flowers trimmed off. 
Dahlia blooms keep much better if cut in the evening — about sunset — and the 
less foliage taken off with the flowers the better for both plant and flower. If 
green is desired, use some other green of better keeping qualities. 
After frost has killed the tops, dig the tubers carefully, remove the soil from 
the roots, and store away in a box or barrel secure from frost. As a precaution it 
would be well to cover lihe tubers so stored with sand, leaves, at moss. 
All clumps should be divided into several pieces before being reset the follow- 
ing spring.— (Extracts from Wilinore's Dahlia Manual. 
